Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia Macan 2014 (750ML)

94 WA / 94 JS / 94 VM / 17 JR

I tasted the 2014 Macán once again, as they are holding the top wine to give it one more year in bottle before being released. It fermented in oak vats with inoculated yeasts and aged in new barrique for 16 to 18 months. They want to give this cuvée no less than three years in bottle. This 2014 was bottled in May 2016, not quite three years ago yet, but it can provide a good idea of the development the wine is going to have when it's released. It's evolving at a very slow pace; it's a tight red with plenty of tannins, and the time in bottle seems to be doing it good. There is concentration and power, as well as typicity from the variety and the zone, with that austerity from this part of Rioja. It's a serious, modern and nicely crafted Tempranillo with a touch of sweet spices and smoke. It should continue evolving nicely in bottle. This will be released in January 2019. 66,166 bottles, 2,041 magnums, 86 double magnums and 25 imperials were produced in 2014. . Luis Gutiérrez – The Wine Advocate

2 Aug, 2018 – Darker fruit, deeper and more earthy accents on the nose here. Leafy too. There’s a supple palate with plenty of depth, power and smoothly rendered tannins. The depth is impressive here. Great length and resolve. Strong, dark-plum finish. Best from 2020 and for a decade at least. James Suckling

(raised in new and used French oak barrels for 15 months) Opaque ruby. A heady, exotically perfumed bouquet evokes ripe black and blue fruits, incense, candied licorice and mocha, and a smoky nuance builds in the glass. Sappy, densely packed boysenberry, cherry liqueur, cola and vanilla flavors show impressive energy and focus and a late jolt of florality. Distinctly rich yet vibrant and graceful in style. Finishes with impressive energy and velvety tannins that lend shape and gentle grip. - Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media

Much better fruit definition than their Clásico but plenty of spicy oak too. Long, smooth, combines savoury spice with ripe fruit very nicely. (RH) Jancis Robinson